WAR ON THE SEAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1942, Page 6

WAR ON THE SEAS

MORE ALLIED LOSSES OFF AMERICAN COASTS WASHINGTON, May 23. The U.S. Navy has announced the sinking of a medium-sized United States vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. Twenty-one members of her crew are dead or missing. The Navy also announces the sinking of a United States merchantm;. - off the Atlantic Coast. Eight of her crew are dead. A small Honduran cargo ship was shelled in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the crew was killed and four were wounded. ~ . , Axis submarines have attacked thre.. more United States merchantmen in the Gulf of Mexico, and have destroyed at least two. The combined loss of life is 63. One of the vessels was the biggest sunk since the cpict; mic of sinkings has spread to the Gulf of Mexico area.

“MISSING” SHIP.

NEW YORK, May 23

T..e Mexican Government is invest (gating the alleged delivery of an entire cargo of Mexican fuel oil to Axis submarines by a French steamer, the “Merope.” The Mexican Petroleum Bureau chartered the “Merope” for a voyage to New York. The “Merope” sailed with 8,000 barrels of petroleum. Then she disappeared. Ostensibly she was lost at sea. However, Mexican Coastguardsmen spotted a vessel off the coast two days ago, and captured it. They found the ship empty. Half the “Merope’s” crew w'ere Frenchmen, whose services were retained because of their familiarity with the vessel. The other members of the crew were Mexicans.

MEXICO TO DECLARE WAR

MEXICO CITY, May 23

The Mexican Cabinet asked for a .■■pedal session of the Mexican Congress in order to declare war against the Axis Powers. The decision of the Cabinet was taken after a long night session. The declaration is to be ior Ihe torpedoing of the two Mexican ships in the Caribbean Sea General Sanchez, Chief of the Mexican General Staff, declared the Army had taken measures necessary to meet a war crisis. The Navy Department had taken over all lighthouses and other navigation aids io operate them in the interests of national security. Squads of soldiers were patrolling the capital and other Mexican cities, and the Army was responsible for public order. droops are reported to be already moving to the strategic zone, protecting railway bridges, tunnels, communications, war factories, and air fields. These measures are designed to place Mexico on a complete defensive war basis when the Congress makes a formal declaration ol war. This will probably be on Tuesday. ANTI-AXIS DEMONSTRATIONS (Rec. noon). MEXICO CITY, May 24. Thousands ol Mexicans demonstrated against the Axis at a huge meeting in the Central Plaza, in homage to 21 men lost in submarine attacks. The

crowd gave an ovation to the President and Cabinet members when they appeared on the balcony of the Pal-

Axis business houses were painted with slogans, “Down with the Axis!” “Down with Hitler!” despite police guards. As the President waved at the populace, the Government radio announced: We are demonstrating to the President and the entire world, including the Fascists, that Mexico is united, and is determined to win the war. U.S.A. NEW COMMAND.

WASHINGTON. May 22

The United States Navy has announced a new sea command and has appointed Rear-Admiral J. F. Shafroth, commander of the United States naval forces in the South-east Pacific, which includes the waters adjacent to South America and the Panama Canal. Rear-Admiral Shafroth will be under the general direction of Admiral Nimitz, the Com-mander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet.

A Rio de Janeiro message says official Brazilian and United States sources said they had no knowledge of any naval engagement in Brazilian waters.

U.S.A. SHIPS LAUNCHED

WASHINGTON. May 22

Maritime Day was marked by ceremonies in many cities and saw the launching of 27 merchantmen. Four new vessels were placed in service to-day, one of them only 60 days after the keel had been laid down, a world record. Mr. Roosevelt, in. a statement issued through the Maritime Commission, said there were those who doubted the United States’ ability to succeed in the construction programme when it was launched a little more than a year ago. To-day he could assure them that they would perform this year a miracle of ship production. The nation’s snipbuilding had been increased more than 500 per cent. Mr. Roosevelt paid a tribute to the heroism and patriotism of the officers and seamen of the merchant marine during these dangerous days. They never faltered in the performance of their duty. “The nation’s maritime industry is 'writing a war-time preface to the most glorious chapter of our history,” he said. “It is making a vital contribution to the immediate war effort and is clearing the way for America’s full restoration to a position in the world’s trade befitting so great a nation. We nave been and still are confronted with a serious shortage of ships to carry the essentials of war, and submarines have taken a heavy toll, but that problem, like others confronting us. is being solved. Our ships are going through and will continue to go through in growing numbers.” BRITISH RECORD. RUGBY, May 23. A British cargo ship of 7200 tons gross, which was delivered to the owners less than five months after the keel was laid in a Scottish shipyard, has just sailed on her maiden voyage. This set a wonderful pace in shipyard construction and probably created a record. CRUISER’S GREAT DEFENCE.

RUGEY, May 23. The Admiralty has released details of the magnificent way in which the cruiser Penelope fought throughout a protracted ordeal in the Mediterranean. She was saved by the tireless devotion of her crew.

For two weeks, while the cruiser lay at Malta, there were almost continuous air raids, and it soon became clear that the Penelope was the central target of these attacks—some of the heaviest to which the island has been subjected. The Penelope’s guns were in action for a great part of every day, and at the height of some of the fiercest raids, all hands, including stewards and cooks, helped man the guns. The ship was holed repeatedly by bomb splinters, and much superficial damage was done, but the crew worked unceasingly to keep the guns in action and the ship’s staff toiled day and night to carry out re-